Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Gedi Three Pora’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by having a round growth habit and ray florets that are a dark orange color. The plant naturally blooms during the first two weeks of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘Gedi Three Pora’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Pora’ is a product of an induced mutation of the parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘Gedi Two Pad’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,501) using gamma ray treatment at a dose of 20 Gy. The new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Pora’was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in September 2001 in Oostniewkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Pora’ by terminal cuttings and tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Gedi Three Pora’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Gedi Three Pora.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gedi Three Pora’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Dark orange-colored ray florets.     -   2. Naturally blooms during the first two weeks of September.     -   3. Round growth habit.     -   4. Average plant vigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Pora’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, ‘Gedi Two Pad,’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘Gedi Three Pora’ have ray florets that are a different color than the ray florets of the parent variety.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Gedi One Cen’ ( U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,902), ‘Gedi Three Pora’ has darker orange bronze ray florets. Additionally, the new variety ‘Gedi Three Pora’ blooms approximately two to three weeks earlier than the comparable variety. Further, the new variety ‘Gedi Three Pora’ has a larger diameter flower than the comparable variety ‘Gedi One Cen.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘Gedi Three Pora’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in the pot. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Gedi Three Pora’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the month of September 2003. The growing temperature ranged from about 12° C. to 15° C. at night to about 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types, and are believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere:

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Gedi Three     Pora.’ -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 27 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 33 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 23 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 17. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 140 days from a rooted     cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length.—Approximately 5.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Palmately lobed and toothed.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             137A.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Green 138A. Venation color under side: Near Green 138A. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Flower:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             approximately 13.5 hours, approximately 45 days of             appropriate day length required to induce and develop             blooms.         -   Form.—Decorative.         -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the first 2 weeks of             September.         -   Number of flowers per lateral branch.—Approximately 24.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.6 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Longevity on plant.—Approximately 26 days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray Florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per flower.—Approximately 145.         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Retuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Greyed-orange             173A. Upper surface at maturity: Near Greyed-orange 173B.             Upper surface at fading: Near Greyed-orange 167C. Under             surface at first opening: Near Greyed-orange 173B. Under             surface at maturity: Near Greyed-orange 171B. Under surface             at fading: Near Oranage 26A. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of disc florets per disc.—Approximately 15.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 9B. At maturity: Near             Yellow 9A. At fading: New Yellow 13B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 2.7 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.1 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 137A.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Form.—Globular.         -   Color.—Near Greyed-orange 172A. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 30.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9C.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow 8C.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Two-branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 6D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow 4C.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 12A.         -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 12A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to a     low temperature of about '−2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in     the approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold an amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage wherein seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Gedi Three Pora’ as herein illustrated and described. 